Cable clamp



May 22, 1934. R. J. LACKNER CABLE CLAMP Original Filed Sept. 28', 19291?- cl Zackner.

Patented May 22, 1934 PATENT OFFICE CABLE CLAMP lltolph J. Lackner,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Original application September 28,. 1929, Serial No. 395,921, new PatentNo. 1,899,162, February Divided and this application February 25, 1933,Serial N0. 658,646

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved cable clamp, being a division ofmy application filed September 28, 1929, Serial No. 395,921, new PatentNo. 1,899,162, February 28, 1933.

The invention seeks, among other objects, to provide a clamp especiallyadapted for use with my improved safety appliance flied of even dateherewith for preventing falling of workmen from swinging scaffolds,steel structures or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp which maynormally slide freely on a cable but wherein, when pull is exerted onthe trigger of the device, the clamp will effectually grip the cable.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a clampwherein the trigger and the head of the clamp will be so formed that,when the trigger is swung, the trigger will bend or kink the cable andeffectually bind the clamp in set position thereon.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved clampin normal position on a cable,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the head of the device and showing,in dotted lines, the trigger swung to grip the cable, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view at a right angle to Fig. 2 on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ a head substantiallyL-shaped in cross section and comprising a depending flange and anoverhanging flange 11 projecting at a right angle from the flange 19 atits upper end. The flange 10 is preferably rounded at its lower edge andformed on the flange 11 at its lower side is a medially disposedtransverse rib 12 having a convex lower face. The flange 11 is furtherprovided at its ends with depending lugs or keepers 13 whereby the headis adapted to extend over a cable and rest thereon, a cable beingconventionally shown at 14. Pivoted upon the flange 10 of the head,below the flange 11, is a trigger or lever 15 which depends below thehead and has an opening 16 through its lower extremity in which the endof an anchoring cable 17 may be secured, preferably by a snap hook 18.Pivotally connecting the trigger with the flange 10 of the head is abolt 19.

As particularly brought out in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper end of thetrigger 15 is disposed immediately below the cable 14 and its upper edgeis formed on a concave arc, as indicated at 20,

- whereby the ends or corners 21 will acquire the functions of cams tocoact with the cable. The concave upper edge of the trigger is centeredwith respect to the convex face of the rib 12 and is of slightly greaterradius than said rib, the upper end of the trigger straddling the rib.

As will now be seen, the cable may slide freely between the flange 11 ofthe head and the trigger 15 as long as the trigger is perpendicular orat a right angle to said flange and the clamp may, consequently, beshifted along the cable to such point as may be desired or at which itwill be most efficient. Should anything happen, however, which would puta strain upon the anchoring cable 17, the resulting pull will rock thetrigger upon the bolt 19 so that one or the other of the corners 21 ofthe trigger will be caused to bind the length of the cable so that thecable will be firmly clamped between the trigger and the flange and,consequently, will be firmly secured.

Attention is now directed to the fact that when the trigger 15 isrocked, as just described and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, theupwardly swung corner or cam of the trigger will flex the adjacentportion of the cable against the rib 12 to cause a bend or kink in thecable, as also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Pull on the trigger willthus be in the direction of said kink or bend with the result that therib 12 will be forced against the obstruction in the cable provided bysaid kink or bend and coact with the upwardly swung cam or corner of thetrigger to effectually prevent slipping of the clamp along the cable. Iaccordingly provide a particularly simple and efiicient device for thepurpose set forth and, as will now be seen, a device which willeffectually serve its function.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A cable clamp including a head engageable over a cable and providedwith an intermediate convex face to ride on the cable and terminaldepending guide lugs, and a trigger pivoted upon the head between theguide lugs and provided with a concave face to confront the convex faceof the head, the trigger being movable to flex the cable about saidconvex face and grip the cable between said faces.

2. A cable clamp including a head having an overhanging flange to engageover a cable, said flange being formed with a transverse convex rib torest on the cable and terminal depending guide lugs, and a triggerpivoted upon the head between the guide lugs and provided with a concaveface confronting said rib, the trigger being movable to flex the cableabout said rib and grip the cable between the trigger and the rib.

3. A cable clamp including a head having an overhanging flange to engageover a cable, said flange being formed with a medial transverse rib torest on the cable and being provided at its ends with depending guidelugs for retaining the head on the cable, and a trigger pivoted upon thehead below said rib and between the guide lugs and provided with aconcave upper edge defining cams selectively engageable with the cablewhen the trigger is rocked for flexing the cable about said rib andbinding the cable between the trigger and said flange.

4. A cable clamp including a head substantially L-shaped in crosssection and provided with a depending flange and an overhanging lateralflange having depending guide lugs at its ends to engage over a cable,said overhanging flange being provided medially with a transverse convexrib, and a trigger pivoted upon the depending flange of the head betweenthe guide lugs and provided with a concave upper face of slightlygreater radius than said rib and. defining corners selective- 1yengageable with the cable when the trigger is rocked for flexing thecable about said rib and binding the cable between the trigger and saidoverhanging flange.

ROLPH J. LACKNER. [L.S.]

